Bioindicators: The Eco-sensors for Detecting Soil Pollution
摘要
Bioindicators are vital tools for monitoring soil pollution, helping detect, assess, and mitigate contaminants from sources like industrial activities, agriculture, waste disposal, and urbanization. These indicators, including plants, soil microorganisms, earthworms, soil invertebrates, and biochemical markers, respond sensitively to changes in soil quality caused by pollutants. For instance, certain plants can accumulate pollutants, visibly indicating contamination levels, while soil microorganisms and invertebrates reflect changes in community structure, abundance, and behavior under pollution stress. Biochemical markers further provide direct evidence of soil pollution through changes in enzyme activity related to pollutant degradation or detoxification. This chapter discusses the importance of studying these bioindicators to monitor and maintain soil health.